Ivy Hill Therapeutic Equestrian Center receives grant

Foundations Community Partnership has awarded a $3,000 Partnership in Youth Services grant to Ivy Hill Therapeutic Equestrian Center for the collaborative program “WOW (We're Outstanding Workers) - Young Adult Job Skills Training and Job Placement Preparation.”

During the 2017-18 school year Ivy Hill partnered with the WOW Program from the Bucks County Intermediate Unit where they acted as the host organization for a pilot study offering transitional work experience for special needs students aging out of the public school system. Four WOW students, working in pairs, learned skills to help them live and work as independent members of their community.

This grant will allow Ivy Hill to expand upon and integrate the program as a permanent part of Ivy Hill's service offerings. The expanded program will commence at the beginning of the 2018-19 school year and will follow a standard school year calendar, half days, 3 days/wk. WOW students will be accompanied by a WOW caseworker during their visits to Ivy Hill where they will learn about and provide various clerical and maintenance tasks and may also learn about basic horse care.

WOW Program teachers will help monitor and track participant acheivements. One measurement of success from our pilot study is that a student obtained a position at a local veterinary practice after completing her service at Ivy Hill. Ivy Hill received an Caring Community Award in June of 2018 for their commitment to providing a work environment and a real-life employment experience for the students.

The grants were awarded at the Foundations Community Partnership Luncheon on Tuesday, October 23rd. The luncheon featured keynote speaker Caryl Stern, President and CEO of UNICEF, USA.

Since 1999, Ivy Hill Therapeutic Equestrian Center has been providing equine-assisted activities and therapies for special needs children and adults in Bucks, Montgomery, Lehigh and Philadelphia counties.

The mission of Ivy Hill Foundation is to utilize the equine experience in building pathways for personal growth, in strengthening supporting relationships and in broadening community involvement for individuals with special needs. To sponsor a horse or a rider, to make a donation or for more information, visit our website at www.ivyhillequestrian.org.